Final answer:
In reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), the stationary phase is the solid particles coated with alkane chains in the column, while the mobile phase is the liquid phase that moves through the column.
Step-by-step explanation:
In reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), the stationary phase refers to the solid particles that are coated with alkane chains and packed into a column. The mobile phase, on the other hand, is the liquid phase that moves through the column. The solutes being separated in RP-HPLC have varying affinities to the stationary phase and the mobile phase, which affects their movement and separation in the column.